How to Choose the Best Boating Accident Lawyer

Experienced Stuart Attorneys Handling Boat Crash Cases

Florida is one of the most popular destinations in the world for boating and water-related activities like jet skis, kayaks, canoes, snorkeling, and swimming. This makes Florida a great place to live and to visit, but it also increases the chance that you could be involved in a boating accident. Just like car accidents, boating accidents can result in devastating and life-altering injuries, or even fatalities. Knowing how to find the best boating accident lawyer to handle your claim and to ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation available can be challenging. You are likely dealing with the pain of your injuries as well as the stress and inconvenience that your injuries cause for other aspects of your life. At Donaldson & Weston, our Stuart boating accident lawyers are committed to ensuring that you receive the compassionate and responsive legal counsel that you deserve during this difficult experience.

How to Find the Best Boating Accident Lawyer for Your Claim

Boating accidents are similar to car accidents in some respects, but there are also many unique aspects that require the care and attention of an attorney who has sufficient experience handling these situations. Florida has specific rules when it comes to how operators must drive their vessels and the appropriate ways to respond to various conditions, such as inclement weather. If your attorney is not familiar with these rules, your right to recovery may be jeopardized.

In general, Florida requires all boaters to operate their vessels with the same reasonable care and skill that a prudent and careful boater would use. This includes obeying any boating laws and regulations that apply at the time of the crash. If the plaintiff can show that the defendant failed to comply with a boating law at the time that the incident occurred, they probably will be able to make a strong argument that the defendant was behaving negligently. Ways to determine whether the defendant violated any laws include obtaining copies of any official reports prepared regarding the crash, as well as identifying key witnesses. While you are coping with your injuries and the stress of the accident, your Stuart attorney can work diligently to ensure that you collect as much valuable evidence as possible. If the defendant did not breach any laws, you can still often establish negligence through other pieces of evidence, such as information showing that the defendant was distracted behind the wheel.

For many accident victims, knowing that they will receive sufficient compensation to cover their past and future expenses is critical. Boating accidents can result in serious injuries, such as brain injuries or paralysis. Florida law entitles a victim who can establish that the defendant acted negligently to recover compensation for many categories of damages, including past and future medical expenses. It may be necessary to retain certain expert witnesses who can testify about the impact of the accident on your health and the estimated future medical care that you will require. The best boating accident attorneys will have access to seasoned expert witnesses who can testify on your behalf and who can help ensure that you are fairly compensated. You can also receive compensation for any reduction in your earning capacity that results from your injuries.

Also, the best injury lawyers will be aware that Florida allows defendants to offer evidence showing that the plaintiff acted negligently at the time of the crash. The jury can then consider this evidence and decide whether to assign a percentage of fault to the plaintiff that will then be used to reduce any damages award in the plaintiff’s favor. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to anticipate this type of issue and make the strongest available arguments against it.

Schedule a Free Appointment with a Boating Accident Lawyer in the Stuart Area

There are many aspects of a boating accident that are stressful for the victim and his or her family, but the performance of their legal counsel should not be one of them. At Donaldson & Weston, we believe that clients deserve thorough, personalized legal advice and that they should be treated with the compassion that anyone would want and expect after a traumatic accident. With clients throughout Martin, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Counties, including in Stuart, Jupiter, and Port St. Lucie, we provide a free appointment to discuss your potential case and how we can assist you. Call us at 772-266-5555 or contact us online to get started.

The attorneys at Donaldson & Weston helped me get an amazing result on my case. Obviously I’ve been through a lot physically but I feel better now and the money really helped my family. When I was riding my bicycle I was hit by a truck that wasn't paying attention. I am not the suing type, but I would definitely hire this firm again. - M.P.

★★★★★

After my accident, i felt like I was being pulled in a bunch of different directions. I really didn't know what to do and all I wanted was someone to shoot me straight. The lawyers at the firm were so honest and definitely pointed me in the right direction. The staff was professional. I think it’s great that only attorneys work on my case, it definitely made me feel comfortable - D.L.

★★★★★

After my accident happened I waited to hear back from the insurance company for about 6 months. I just felt like they kept jerking me around. They even told me not to hire an attorney because it would mean less money in my pocket. I couldn't wait any longer because my bills were out of hand. I hired this firm and they were solid. I got a great result without having to go to court. - S.C.

We serve the following localities: St. Lucie County including Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie; Martin County including Jensen Beach, Palm City, and Stuart; and Palm Beach County including Belle Glade, Boynton Beach, Greenacres, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Loxahatchee, Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach, Royal Palm Beach, and West Palm Beach.